(19)
(11) EP 0 598 327 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.12.1994 Bulletin 1994/52

(43) Date of publication A2:
25.05.1994 Bulletin 1994/21

(21) Application number: 93118240.6

(22) Date of filing: 11.11.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: D04B 21/00, D04B 21/20, A61F 13/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 13.11.1992 US 976402

(71) Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Schmidt, Jacquelyn A., c/o Minnesota Mining
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)
  • Kokorudz, John M., c/o Minnesota Mining
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)
  • Scholz, Matthew T., c/o Minnesota Mining
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)
  • Tochacek, Miroslav M., c/o Minnesota Mining
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)
  • Ubel III, Andrew F., c/o Minnesota Mining
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 (US)

(74) Representative: von Kreisler, Alek, Dipl.-Chem. et al
Patentanwälte, von Kreisler-Selting-Werner, Bahnhofsvorplatz 1 (Deichmannhaus)
50667 Köln
50667 Köln (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Narrow fibreglass knit tape


    (57) The present invention provides a narrow orthopedic casting tape which can be handled in longer lengths suitable for economical production of coated fabric products. The narrow casting tape of the present invention is knitted as a wide fiberglass fabric with at least one removable connecting yarn in the length (i.e., warp) direction of the fabric which acts to connect two narrower strips of fiberglass fabric. The removable connecting yarn is subsequently removed from the fabric by a heat treatment process which separates the wider fabric into two narrower fabrics and also heat sets the fabric. Alternatively, the removable connecting yarn may be removed from the fabric by a dissolution process. Narrow fabrics of the present invention can also be constructed of organic yarns.
    The present invention also provides a tearable orthopedic casting tape which has a high degree of extensibility. The tearable casting tape of the present invention is knitted as a wide fabric, preferably fiberglass, with at least one tearable connecting yarn in the length direction of the fabric which acts to weakly connect two or more narrower fabrics. The tearable connecting yarn is capable of being easily torn or slit causing the fabric to separate into narrower webs.






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